UN calls for Congo elections to be held on time in November

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for presidential and legislative elections in Congo to be held on schedule in November. The council is rejecting the government's demand to cut the 20,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in the country in half.

Congo's U.N. Ambassador Ignace Gata Mavita expressed regret that the council kept the U.N. force at its current level in Wednesday's resolution extending the mission's mandate until March 31, 2017.

Congo is scheduled to hold elections in November but the opposition worries that President Joseph Kabila, meant to leave office in December, will postpone the election timeline to stay in power.

The council urged the government and all parties "to ensure an environment conducive to a free, fair, credible, inclusive, transparent, peaceful and timely electoral process."